Study: Most Mac Owners Have a Secret Love Affair with a Windows-based PC

The stereotypical Mac user is apparently not so stereotypical. While often portrayed as smug, self-righteous, and clueless about Windows-based PCs, it turns out they may well be smug, self-righteous, but not so clueless about PCs.

According to a recent study by the NDP Group of 2,300 households, nearly 85% of Mac owners also own at least one Windows-based PC. Mac users also tend to be more acquisitive of electronic gear than their PC counterparts, being more likely to own an iPod, digital SLR camera, a laptop, and three or more computers. Not surprisingly, Mac households also have pretty deep pockets, with 36% of them reporting incomes greater than $100,000 (compared to 21% of all consumers).

The study also reports that Mac penetration is on the rise. Between 2008 and 2009, the NDP Group reports, Mac households jumped from 9% to 12%, a possible sign of the effectiveness of Apple’s “I’m a Mac” ads. But this increase doesn’t necessarily appear to be at the expense of PCs, with Mac owners being likely to have a PC as well.